Aqueous personal cleansing composition with a dispersed oil phase comprising two specifically defined oil components

ABSTRACT

A personal cleansing composition comprising: (a) from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a dispersed oil phase comprising a first oil component having an oil/surfactant solution interfacial tension (IFT) of greater than about 1.0 dynes/cm and a second oil component having an oil/surfactant solution interfacial tension (IFT) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 dynes/cm; and (b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of water-soluble surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof; and (c) water; and wherein the ratio of first to second dispersed oil component is in the range from about 20:1 to about 1:20. The cleansing products demonstrate excellent in-use efficacy benefits including excellent skin feel during and after use, good lather volume, stability and appearance characteristics, good skin conditioning, mildness, stability, cleansing, good water feel and appearance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cleansing compositions. In particularit relates to mild personal cleansing compositions with good skin feelattributes and foaming properties suitable for simultaneously cleansingand conditioning the skin and/or the hair and which may be used, forexample, in the form of foam bath preparations, shower products, skincleansers, hand, face and body cleansers, shampoos, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mild cosmetic compositions must satisfy a number of criteria includingcleansing power, foaming properties and mildness/low irritancy/good feelwith respect to the skin, hair and the ocular mucosae. Skin is made upof several layers of cells which coat and protect the keratin andcollagen fibrous proteins that form the skeleton of its structure. Theoutermost of these layers, referred to as the stratum corneum, is knownto be composed of 250 Å protein bundles surrounded by 80 Å thick layers.Hair similarly has a protective outer coating enclosing the hair fibrewhich is called the cuticle. Anionic surfactants can penetrate thestratum corneum membrane and the cuticle and, by delipidization destroymembrane integrity. This interference with skin and hair protectivemembranes can lead to a rough skin feel and eye irritation and mayeventually permit the surfactant to interact with the keratin and hairproteins creating irritation and loss of barrier and water retentionfunctions.

Ideal cosmetic cleansers should cleanse the skin or hair gently, withoutdefatting and/or drying the hair and skin and without irritating theocular mucosae or leaving skin taut after frequent use. Most latheringsoaps, shower and bath products, shampoos and bars fail in this respect.

Certain synthetic surfactants are known to be mild. However, a majordrawback of most mild synthetic surfactant systems when formulated forshampooing or personal cleansing is poor lather performance compared tothe highest shampoo and bar soap standards. Thus, surfactants that areamong the mildest, such as sodium lauryl glyceryl ether sulfonate,(AGS), are marginal in lather. The use of known high sudsing anionicsurfactants with lather boosters, on the other hand, can yieldacceptable lather volume and quality but at the expense of clinical skinmildness. These two facts make the surfactant selection, the lather andmildness benefit formulation process a delicate balancing act.

Despite the many years of research that have been expended by thetoiletries industry on personal cleansing, the broad mass of consumersremain dissatisfied by the mildness of present day cleansingcompositions, finding, for example, that they have to apply a separatecosmetic lotion or cream moisturizer to the skin after using a shower orbath preparation in order to maintain skin suppleness and hydration andto counteract the delipidizing effect of the cleanser.

It is known from the art that inclusion of oils in bathing compositionscan provide post-use skin feel benefits. However incorporation of oilsat levels sufficient to deliver consumer noticeable benefits has untilnow proved to be a challenge, particularly with respect to the deliveryof good, stable lather characteristics in the presence of oil andavoiding unpleasant `slimy`/`greasy` water feel or oily appearanceduring use while still delivering a desirable after-use soft skin feel.A further difficulty associated with combining high levels of oil withconventional detergent systems has been the achievement of a stablesystem in which the oil is deposited onto the skin in a non-greasymanner during use. It has now been found that personal cleansingcompositions having excellent skin feel attributes both for in use feeland after use feel as well as good lather volume, stability and feelcharacteristics in combination with improved product stability can beprovided by the use of particular polyol polyester oil components. Ithas also been found that combination of oil components having particularoil/surfactant solution interfacial tension characteristics areespecially valuable for the provision of product stability and skindeposition characteristics.

Thus a need exists for personal cleansing products which will notdehydrate the skin or result in loss of skin suppleness, which willprovide a level of skin conditioning and emolliency performance whichpreviously has only been provided by a separate post-cleansing cosmeticmoisturizer and which will produce a foam which is stable and of highquality both in lather volume and appearance, which are effective hairand skin cleansers, which have good in-use aesthetics, rinsibilitycharacteristics, and which at the same time have stable product andviscosity characteristics and remain fully stable under long term andstressed temperature storage conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a mild, foam-producing cleansingproduct suitable for personal cleansing of the skin or hair and whichmay be used as foam bath and shower products, skin cleansers andshampoos etc. According to one aspect of the invention, there isprovided a personal cleansing composition comprising:

(a) from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a dispersed oil phasecomprising a first oil component having an oil/surfactant solutioninterfacial tension (IFT) of greater than about 1.0 dynes/cm and asecond oil component having an oil/surfactant solution interfacialtension (IFT) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 dynes/cm;

(b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of water-soluble surfactantselected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric surfactantsand mixtures thereof; and

(c) water;

and wherein the ratio of first to second dispersed oil component is inthe range from about 20:1 to about 1:20.

In preferred embodiments, the first oil component is selected frompolyol fatty acid polyesters, especially nonocclusive liquid polyolfatty acid polyesters containing at least four fatty acid ester groupsand wherein the polyol moiety is selected from sugars and sugar alcoholscontaining from about 4 to about 8 hydroxyl groups, and wherein eachcarboxylic acid moiety has from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms andwherein the liquid polyol fatty acid polyester has a complete meltingpoint of less than about 30° C.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an aqueous personal cleansing composition comprising:

(a) from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a dispersed oil phasecomprising at least one nonocclusive liquid polyol fatty acid polyestercontaining at least four fatty acid ester groups wherein the polyolmoiety is selected from sugars and sugar alcohols containing from about4 to about 8 hydroxyl groups, and wherein each carboxylic acid moietyhas from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and wherein the liquid polyolfatty acid polyester has a complete melting point of less than about 30°C.; and

(b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of water-soluble surfactantselected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric surfactantsand mixtures thereof.

In a highly preferred embodiment, the invention takes the form of a foamproducing cleansing composition with excellent lather and stabilitycharacteristics, superior skin feel characteristics, improved perceiveddryness and assessed tightness and expertly graded dryness, combinedwith good cleansing ability and conditioning performance.

All concentrations and ratios herein are by weight of the cleansingcomposition, unless otherwise specified. Surfactant chain lengths arealso on a weight average chain length basis, unless otherwise specified.

The cleansing compositions herein are based on a combination of adispersed oil phase and a water-soluble surfactant system. In preferredcompositions the surfactant system comprises an oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant and mild auxiliary surfactants, which in general terms can beselected from other nonionic, anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionicsurfactants and mixtures thereof. The total level of surfactant,inclusive of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and othersurfactant components is preferably from about 5% to about 25%, morepreferably from about 7% to about 20%, and especially from about 8% toabout 16% by weight. The compositions preferably comprise a mixture ofoil dispersing nonionic and anionic surfactants optionally withauxiliary nonionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants. Thetotal level of auxiliary surfactant is in the range from about 0.5% toabout 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%, more preferably fromabout 2% to about 6% by weight of the composition, while the level ofoil dispersing nonionic surfactant is from about 1% to about 25%,preferably from about 2% to about 15%, more preferably from about 3% toabout 12% by weight and especially from about 4% to about 8%. The weightratio of anionic surfactant: auxiliary nonionic, zwitterionic and/oramphoteric surfactant is preferably in the range of from about 8:1 toabout 51:2. The ratio of auxiliary surfactant to oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant is preferably in the range of from 1:10 to about 10:1, morepreferably from about 1:5 to about 5:1, most preferably from about 1:2to about 2:1. The preferred compositions within the scope of theinvention comprise mixtures of nonionic surfactants, oil and auxiliaryanionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, wherein the levelof dispersed oil phase is from about 3% to about 25%, preferably fromabout 8% to about 20%, more preferably from about 10% to about 15% byweight of the composition and the weight ratio of oil dispersingnonionic surfactant: dispersed oil phase is in the range of from 1:20 toabout 3:2, preferably from about 1:6 to about 1:2, more preferably fromabout 1:4 to about 1:3.

The dispersed oil phase preferably comprises a mixture of first andsecond oil components selected on the basis of their oil/surfactantsolution interfacial tension characteristics, such combinations beingoptimum for delivering desirable emulsion stabilisation and skindeposition characteristics.

Oil/surfactant interfacial tension (IFT) measurements indicate thedegree to which a surfactant solution can reduce the interfacial tension(IFT) between an oil component and a water phase. IFT measurements aremade using a Spinning Drop Interfacial Tensiometer and are taken at40-50° C. and 21 Degrees Clark water hardness (428 ppm CaCO₃) and 75 ppmaqueous surfactant solution concentration. In this test the surfactantsystem preferred for use is the surfactant system of the final cleansingcomposition. Where difficulties arise, or for screening purposes astandard aqueous surfactant solution can be used comprising a mixture ofethoxylated alkyl sulphate having two ethoxylated groups and alkylN-methyl glucose amide in a weight ratio of about 4:1. Measurements areundertaken at pH 7 and are reported as the average of the 2, 5 and 10minute interfacial tension readings.

By `interfacial tension` (IFT) herein is meant the tension measured atthe oil/water interface. IFT measurements using the spinning droptechnique, are disclosed by Cafas, Schechter and Wade, "The Measurementof Low Interfacial Tension via the Spinning Drop Technique", ACSSymposium Series No.8 (1975) ADSORPTION AT INTERFACES, beginning at page234.

The dispersed oil phase suitable for inclusion herein preferablycomprises a mixture of a first and a second oil component wherein thefirst oil component comprises, in preferred embodiments, a polyolpolyester and the second oil component comprises one or more oilsselected from hydrocarbons, lanolin and lanolin derivatives and animaland vegetable triglycerides. Use of a mixed oil system is valuable bothfor the effective emulsification of the oils within the product matrixand also for their subsequent deposition upon the skin surface uponproduct dilution in use. Applicant has found that compositions havingmixed first/second oil components as defined deliver improved skin feelboth in use and after use versus products containing either the first orsecond oil components alone.

The total level of first and second dispersed oil component present isfrom about 1% to about 30%, preferably from about 3% to about 25%, morepreferably from about 8% to about 20%, most preferably from about 10% toabout 15% by weight wherein the weight ratio of first oil component tosecond oil component is in the range of from about 20:1 to about 1:20,preferably from about 8:1 to about 1:8, more preferably from about 4:1to about 1:4.

In highly preferred compositions, the dispersed oil phase comprises anonocclusive liquid or liquifiable polyol fatty acid polyester.Especially preferred are liquid polyol fatty acid polyesters containingat least four fatty acid ester groups and wherein the polyol moiety isselected from sugars and sugar alcohols containing from about 4 to about8 hydroxyl groups, and wherein each carboxylic acid moiety has fromabout 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and wherein the liquid polyol fattyacid polyester has a complete melting point of less than about 30° C.

The polyester also preferably has an oil/surfactant interfacial tension(IFT) of greater than about 1.0 dynes/cm, preferably from about 1.1 toabout 4.0, more preferably from about 1.2 to about 3.0 and especiallyfrom about 1.3 to about 2.0 dynes/cm (as measured under the abovestandard conditions) and is present at a level of from about 1% to about10%, preferably from about 1% to about 5%, more preferably from about 2%to about 4% by weight.

The liquid polyol polyesters preferred for use in the presentcompositions comprise certain polyols, especially sugars or sugaralcohols, esterified with at least four fatty acid groups. Accordingly,preferred polyol starting material should have at least fouresterifiable hydroxyl groups. Examples of preferred polyols are sugars,including monosaccharides and disaccharides, and sugar alcohols.Examples of monosaccharides containing four hydroxyl groups are xyloseand arabinose and the sugar alcohol derived from xylose, which has fivehydroxyl groups, i.e., xylitol. The monosaccharide, erythrose, is notpreferred in the practice of this invention since it only contains threehydroxyl groups, but the sugar alcohol derived from erythrose, i.e.,erythritol, contains four hydroxyl groups and accordingly can be used.Suitable five hydroxyl group-containing monosaccharides are galactose,fructose, and sorbose. Sugar alcohols containing six --OH groups derivedfrom the hydrolysis products of sucrose, as well as glucose and sorbose,e.g., sorbitol, are also suitable. Examples of disaccharide polyolswhich can be used include maltose, lactose, and sucrose, all of whichcontain eight hydroxyl groups.

Preferred polyols for preparing the polyesters for use in the presentinvention are selected from the group consisting of erythritol, xylitol,sorbitol, glucose, and sucrose. Sucrose is especially preferred.

The preferred polyol starting material having at least four hydroxylgroups is esterified on at least four of the --OH groups with a fattyacid containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Examples of suchfatty acids include caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, myristoleic,palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, ricinoleic, linoleic, linolenic,eleostearic, arachidic, arachidonic, behenic, and erucic acid. The fattyacids can be derived from naturally occurring or synthetic fatty acids;they can be saturated or unsaturated, including positional andgeometrical isomers. However, in order to provide liquid polyesterspreferred for use herein, at least about 50% by weight of the fatty acidincorporated into the polyester molecule should be unsaturated. Oleicand linoleic acids, and mixtures thereof, are especially preferred.

The polyol fatty acid polyesters useful in this invention preferablycontain at least four fatty acid ester groups. It is not necessary thatall of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol be esterified with fatty acid,but it is preferable that the polyester contain no more than twounesterified hydroxyl groups. Most preferably, substantially all of thehydroxyl groups of the polyol are esterified with fatty acid, i.e., thepolyol moiety is substantially completely esterified. The fatty acidsesterified to the polyol molecule can be the same or mixed, but as notedabove, a substantial amount of the unsaturated acid ester groups must bepresent to provide liquidity.

To illustrate the above points, a sucrose tetra-fatty acid ester wouldbe suitable for use herein, but is not preferred because it has morethan two unesterified hydroxyl groups. A sucrose hexa-fatty acid esterwould be preferred because it has no more than two unesterified hydroxylgroups. Highly preferred compounds in which all the hydroxyl groups areesterified with fatty acids include the liquid sucrose octa-substitutedfatty acid esters.

The following are non-limiting examples of specific polyol fatty acidpolyesters containing at least four fatty acid ester groups preferredfor use in the present invention: glucose tetraoleate, the glucosetetraesters of soybean oil fatty acids (unsaturated), the mannosetetraesters of mixed soybean oil fatty acids, the galactose tetraestersof oleic acid, the arabinose tetraesters of linoleic acid, xylosetetralinoleate, galactose pentaoleate, sorbitol tetraoleate, thesorbitol hexaesters of unsaturated soybean oil fatty acids, xylitolpentaoleate, sucrose tetraoleate, sucrose pentaoletate, sucrosehexaoleate, sucrose hepatoleate, sucrose octaoleate, and mixturesthereof.

As noted above, highly preferred polyol fatty acid esters are thosewherein the fatty acids contain from about 14 to about 18 carbon atoms.

The preferred liquid polyol polyesters preferred for use herein havecomplete melting points below about 30° C., preferably below about 27.5°C., more preferably below about 25° C. Complete melting points reportedherein are measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).

The polyol fatty acid polyesters suitable for use herein can be preparedby a variety of methods well known to those skilled in the art. Thesemethods include: transesterification of the polyol with methyl, ethyl orglycerol fatty acid esters using a variety of catalysts; acylation ofthe polyol with a fatty acid chloride; acylation of the polyol with afatty acid anhydride; and acylation of the polyol with a fatty acid, perse. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,854; U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,196, to Jandacek,issued Jan. 25, 1977.

The preferred first oil component for the compositions according to thepresent invention is a liquid sucrose octa-substituted fatty acid ester.

The compositions of the present invention can also comprise further oilcomponents in the dispersed oil phase. The preferred further oilcomponents are non-polar oils. Highly preferred second oil componentshave an interfacial tension (IFT) in the range of from about 0.1 toabout 1.0 dynes/cm, preferably from about 0.2 to about 0.9, morepreferably from about 0.3 to about 0.7 dynes/cm (as measured using theabove standard conditions) and are present at a level of from about 1%to about 20%, preferably from about 5% to about 15%, more preferablyfrom about 8% to about 15% by weight.

Additional oil components of the dispersed oil phase suitable for useherein include hydrocarbons, lanolin and animal and vegetabletriglycerides such as mineral oils, petrolatum and squalene, fattysorbitan esters (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,255, Seiden, issued Oct. 26th1976), lanolin and oil-like lanolin derivatives, water-insolublesilicones inclusive of non-volatile polyalkyl and polyaryl siloxane gumsand fluids, volatile cyclic and linear polyalkylsiloxanes,polyalkoxylated silicones, amino and quaternary ammonium modifiedsilicones, rigid cross-linked and reinforced silicones and mixturesthereof, C₁ -C₂₄ esters of C₈ -C₃₀ fatty acids such as isopropylmyristate and cetyl ricinoleate, beeswax, saturated and unsaturatedfatty alcohols such as behenyl alcohol, almond oil, peanut oil, wheatgerm oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricot pits, walnuts, palmnuts, pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, rapeseed, cade oil, corn oil, peachpit oil, poppyseed oil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil,safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, andsunflower seed oil, and C₁ -C₂₄ esters of dimer and trimer acids such asdiisopropyl dimerate, diisostearylmalate, diisostearyldimerate andtriisostearyltrimerate and mixtures thereof.

The most preferred second oil components are non-polar oils selectedfrom mineral oil, petrolatum, water-insoluble silicones, soya bean oiland the like and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred for use hereinis mineral oil.

Preferred compositions include an oil dispersing nonionic surfactant ata level of from about 1% to about 25%, preferably from about 2% to about15%, more preferably from about 3% to about 12%, most preferably fromabout 4% to about 8% by weight.

Oil dispersing nonionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in thecompositions according to the present invention have excellent oildispersing characteristics as demonstrated by microscopy and Immersiontests.

To demonstrate the suitability of a nonionic surfactant forincorporation in the compositions according to the present invention atest matrix including the test nonionic and all other compositioningredients is prepared. A portion of this prototype is then viewedunder a microscope using a Nikon Optipot-2 Videomicrowatcher.Surfactants suitable for incorporation in the compositions according tothe present invention typically produce homogeneous (opaque) productmatrices in which the oil droplets have a mean diameter in the range offrom about 1 microns to about 30 microns, preferably from about 2microns to about 20 microns.

Highly preferred dispersed oil systems suitable for the compositionsaccording to the present invention have an average oil droplet size offrom about 3 microns to about 10 microns as measured by a NikonOptipot-2 Videomicrowatcher.

In the Immersion Test, the in-use characteristics of prototype matricesare assessed. In essence, 6 ml of prototype matrix is dispersed in 20liters of water at 40° C. The physical appearance of the resultingsolution is then assessed. Compositions which result in turbid (cloudy)solutions wherein no oil droplets are visible to the naked eye areregarded as demonstrating the desired behaviour, providing theyadditionally deliver the required skin feel.

Oil dispersing nonionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in thecompositions according to the present invention are selected from C₁₂-C₁₈ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, preferably C₁₂ -C₁₆polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, more preferably C₁₂ -C₁₄polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants having the general formula (I).##STR1##

The preferred N-alkyl, N-alkoxy or N-aryloxy, polyhydroxy fatty acidamide surfactants according to formula (I) are those in which R⁸ is C₅-C₃₁ hydrocarbyl, preferably C₉ -C₁₇ hydrocarbyl, includingstraight-chain and branched chain alkyl and alkenyl, or mixtures thereofand R9 is typically C₁ -C₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, preferably methyl, ora group of formula --R¹ --O--R² wherein R¹ is C₂ -C₈ hydrocarbylincluding straight-chain, branched-chain and cyclic (including aryl),and is preferably C₂ -C₄ alkylene, R² is C₁ -C₈ straight-chain,branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbyl including aryl and oxyhydrocarbyl,and is preferably C₁ -C₄ alky, especially methyl, or phenyl. Z₂ is apolyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with atleast 2 (in the case of glyceraldehyde) or at least 3 hydroxyls (in thecase of other reducing sugars) directly connected to the chain, or analkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof.Z₂ preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductiveamination reaction, most preferably Z₂ is a glycityl moiety. Suitablereducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose,mannose, and xylose, as well as glyceraldehyde. As raw materials, highdextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose cornsyrup can be utilized as well as the individual sugars listed above.These corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components for Z₂. It shouldbe understood that it is by no means intended to exclude other suitableraw materials. Z₂ preferably will be selected from the group consistingof --CH₂ --(CHOH)_(n) --CH₂ OH, --CH(CH₂ OH)--(CHOH)_(n-1) --CH₂ OH, CH₂(CHOH)₂ (CHOR')CHOH)--CH₂ OH, where n is an integer from 1 to 5,inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic mono- or poly-saccharide, andalkoxylated derivatives thereof. As noted, most preferred are glycitylswherein n is 4, particularly --CH₂ --(CHOH)₄ --CH₂ OH.

In compounds of the above formula, R₈ --CO--N< can be, for example,cocoamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide, myristamide, capricamide,palmitamide, tallowamide, etc.

A preferred process for making the above compounds having formula (I)comprises reacting a fatty acid triglyceride with an N-substitutedpolyhydroxy amine in the substantial absence of lower (C₁ -C₄) alcoholicsolvent, but preferably with an alkoxylated alcohol or alkoxylated alkylphenol such as NEODOL and using an alkoxide catalyst at temperatures offrom about 50° C. to about 140° C. to provide high yields (90-98%) ofthe desired products. Suitable processes for making the desiredpolyhydroxy fatty acid amide materials are outlined in U.S. Pat. No.5,194,639 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,891.

The most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amide has the formula R₈(CO)N(CH₃)CH₂ (CHOH)₄ CH₂ OH wherein R₈ is a C11-C17 straight chainalkyl or alkenyl group.

In preferred compositions the surfactant system comprises an oildispersing nonionic surfactant and auxiliary surfactants wherein theauxiliary surfactant is selected from anionic, zwitterionic, amphotericand auxiliary nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. The level ofauxiliary surfactant is from about 0.5% to about 15%, preferably fromabout 1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 2% to about 6% byweight.

Anionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of theinvention can generally be described as mild synthetic detergentsurfactants and include ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, alkyl glyceryl ethersulfonates, methyl acyl taurates, fatty acyl glycinates, N-acylglutamates, acyl isethionates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alpha-sulfonatedfatty acids, their salts and/or their esters, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates,alkyl phosphate esters, ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, acylsarcosinates and fatty acid/protein condensates, and mixtures thereof.Alkyl and/or acyl chain lengths for these surfactants are C₈ -C₂₂,preferably C₁₀ -C₁₈.

Preferred for use herein from the viewpoint of optimum mildness andlathering characteristics are the salts of sulfuric acid esters of thereaction product of 1 mole of a higher fatty alcohol and from about 1 toabout 12 moles of ethylene oxide, with sodium and magnesium being thepreferred counterions. Particularly preferred are the alkyl sulfatescontaining from about 2 to 6, preferably 2 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide,such as sodium laureth-2 sulfate, sodium laureth-3 sulfate and magnesiumsodium laureth-3.6 sulfate. In preferred embodiments, the anionicsurfactant contains at least about 50%, especially at least about 75% byweight of ethoxylated alkyl sulfate.

The compositions for use herein suitably also contain an amphotericsurfactant. Amphoteric surfactants suitable for use in the compositionsof the invention include:

(a) imidazolinium surfactants of formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R₁ is C₇-C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₂ is hydrogen or CH₂ Z, each Z is independentlyCO₂ M or CH₂ CO₂ M, and M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal,ammonium or alkanolammonium; and/or ammonium derivatives of formula(III) ##STR3## wherein R₁, R₂ and Z are as defined above; (b)aminoalkanoates of formula (IV)

R₁ NH(CH₂)_(n) CO₂ M

and iminodialkanoates of formula (V)

R₁ N (CH₂)_(m) CO₂ M!₂

wherein n and m are numbers from 1 to 4, and R₁ and M are independentlyselected from the groups specified above; and

(c) mixtures thereof

Suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (a) are marketed under the tradename Miranol and Empigen and are understood to comprise a complexmixture of species. Traditionally, the Miranols have been described ashaving the general formula II, although the CTFA Cosmetic IngredientDictionary, 4th Edition indicates the non-cyclic structure III. Inpractice, a complex mixture of cyclic and non-cyclic species is likelyto exist and both definitions are given here for sake of completeness.Preferred for use herein, however, are the non-cyclic species.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (a) includecompounds of formula II and/or III in which R₁ is C₈ H₁₇ (especiallyisocapryl), C₉ H₁₉ and C₁₁ H₂₃ alkyl. Especially preferred are thecompounds in which R₁ is C₉ H₁₉, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is H; the compoundsin which R₁ is C₁₁ H₂₃, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is CH₂ CO₂ M; and thecompounds in which R₁ is C₁₁ H₂₃, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is H.

In CTFA nomenclature, materials preferred for use in the presentinvention include cocoamphocarboxypropionate, cocoamphocarboxy propionicacid, and especially cocoamphoacetate and cocoamphodiacetate (otherwisereferred to as cocoamphocarboxyglycinate). Specific commercial productsinclude those sold under the trade names of Empigen CDL60 and CDR 60(Albright & Wilson), Miranol H2M Conc. Miranol C2M Conc. N.P., MiranolC2M Conc. O.P., Miranol C2M SF, Miranol CM Special (Rhone-Poulenc);Alkateric 2CIB (Alkaril Chemicals); Amphoterge W-2 (Lonza, Inc.);Monateric CDX-38, Monateric CSH-32 (Mona Industries); Rewoteric AM-2C(Rewo Chemical Group); and Schercotic MS-2 (Scher Chemicals).

It will be understood that a number of commercially-available amphotericsurfactants of this type are manufactured and sold in the form ofelectroneutral complexes with, for example, hydroxide counterions orwith anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactants, especially those of thesulfated C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol, C₈ -C₁₈ ethoxylated alcohol or C₈ -C₁₈ acylglyceride types. Preferred from the viewpoint of mildness and productstability, however, are compositions which are essentially free of(non-ethoxylated) sulfated alcohol surfactants. Note also that theconcentrations and weight ratios of the amphoteric surfactants are basedherein on the uncomplexed forms of the surfactants, any anionicsurfactant counterions being considered as part of the overall anionicsurfactant component content.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (b) include salts,especially the triethanolammonium salts and salts of N-lauryl-beta-aminopropionic acid and N-lauryl-imino-dipropionic acid. Such materials aresold under the trade name Deriphat by Henkel and Mirataine byRhone-Poulenc. Amphoterics preferred for use herein, however, are thoseof formula II and/or III.

The compositions of the invention may also include auxiliary nonionicsurfactants. Suitable auxiliary nonionic surfactants for use herein canbe selected from C₁₂ -C₁₄ fatty acid mono-and diethanolamides andsucrose polyester surfactants, water soluble vegetable andanimal-derived emollients (oil derived) such as triglycerides with apolyglycol chain inserted; ethoxylated mono and di-glycerides,polyethoxylated lanolins and shea butter derivatives and mixturesthereof. One preferred class of oil-derived auxiliary nonionicsurfactants for use herein have the general formula (VI) ##STR4##wherein n is from about 5 to about 200, preferably from about 20 toabout 100, more preferably from about 30 to about 85, and wherein Rcomprises an aliphatic radical having on average from about 5 to 20carbon atoms, preferably from about 9 to 18 carbon atoms.

Suitable ethoxylated oils and fats of this class includepolyethyleneglycol derivatives of glyceryl cocoate, glyceryl caproate,glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl tallowate, glyceryl palmate, glycerylstearate, glyceryl laurate, glyceryl oleate, glyceryl ricinoleate, andglyceryl fatty esters derived from triglycerides, such as palm oil,almond oil, and corn oil, preferably glyceryl tallowate and glycerylcocoate.

Suitable oil derived auxiliary nonionic surfactants of this class areavailable from Croda Inc. (New York, USA) under their Crovol line ofmaterials such as Crovol EP40 (PEG 20 evening primrose glyceride),Crovol EP 70 (PEG 60 evening primrose glyceride) Crovol A40 (PEG 20almond glyceride), Crovol A-70 (PEG 60 almond glyceride), Crovol M-40(PEG 20 maize glyceride), Crovol M-70 (PEG 60 maize glyceride), CrovolPK-40 (PEG 12 palm kernel glyceride), and Crovol PK-70 (PEG 45 palmkernel glyceride) and under their Solan range of materials such as SolanE, E50 and X polyethoxylated lanolins. Also especially preferred hereinis PEG (6) capric/caprylic glyceride (Softigen 767). Further suitablesurfactants of this class are commercially available from SherexChemical Co. (Dublin, Ohio, USA) under their Varonic LI line ofsurfactants. These include, for example, Varonic LI 48 (polyethyleneglycol (n=80) glyceryl tallowate, alternatively referred to as PEG 80glyceryl tallowate), Varonic LI 2 (PEG 28 glyceryl tallowate), VaronicLI 420 (PEG 200 glyceryl tallowate), and Varonic LI 63 and 67 (PEG 30and PEG 80 glyceryl cocoates). Other water soluble vegetable-derivedemollients suitable for use are PEG derivatives of corn, avocado andbabassu oil.

Also suitable for use herein are auxiliary nonionic surfactants derivedfrom composite vegetable fats extracted from the fruit of the Shea Tree(13utyrospermum Karkii Kotschy) and derivatives thereof. This vegetablefat, Inown as Shea Butter is widely used in Central Africa for a varietyof means such as soap making and as a barrier cream, it is marketed bySederma (78610 Le Perray En Yvelines, France). Also of interest areethoxylated derivatives of Shea butter available from Karlshamn ChemicalCo. (Columbus, Ohio, USA) under their Lipex range of chemicals, such asLipex 102 E-75 (ethoxylated mono, di-glycerides of Shea butter) and fromCroda Inc. (New York) under their Crovol line of materials, such asCrovol SB70 (RTM) (ethoxylated Shea butter). Similarly, ethoxylatedderivatives of Mango, Cocoa and Illipe butter may be used incompositions according to the invention. Although these are classifiedas ethoxylated nonionic surfactants it is understood that a certainproportion may remain as non-ethoxylated vegetable oil or fat.

Other suitable auxiliary oil-derived nonionic surfactants includeethoxylated derivatives of almond oil, peanut oil, wheat germ oil,linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricot pits, walnuts, palm nuts,pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, rapeseed, cade oil, corn oil, peach pitoil, poppyseed oil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil,safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, andsunflower seed oil.

Oil derived auxiliary nonionic surfactants highly preferred for useherein from the viewpoint of optimum mildness and skin feelcharacteristics are PEG 60 evening primrose triglycerides; PEG 55lanolin polyethoxylated derivatives and ethoxylated derivatives of Sheabutter.

The compositions herein preferably also contain a zwitterionicsurfactant.

Betaine surfactants suitable for inclusion in the composition of theinvention include alkyl betaines of the formula R₅ R₆ R₇ N+(CH₂)_(n) M(VII) and amido betaines of the formula (VIII) ##STR5## wherein R₅ isC₁₁ -C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₆ and R₇ are independently C₁ -C₃ alkyl, Mis H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium,and n, m are each numbers from 1 to 4. Preferred betaines includecocoamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine,laurylamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine and Tego betaine.

Water-soluble auxiliary sultaine surfactants suitable for inclusion inthe compositions of the present invention include alkyl sultaines of theformula (IX); ##STR6## wherein R₁ is C₇ to C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₂ andR₃ are independandly C₁ to C₃ alkyl, M is H, alkali metal, alkalineearth metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium and m and n are numbers from 1to 4. Preferred for use herein is coco amido propylhydroxy sultaine.

Water-soluble auxiliary amine oxide surfactants suitable for inclusionin the compoisitions of the present invention include alkyl amine oxideR₅ R₆ R₇ NO and amido amine oxides of the formula (X) ##STR7## whereinR₅ is C₁₁ to C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₆ and R₇ are independandly C₁ to C₃alkyl, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium oralkanolammonium and m is a number from 1 to 4. Preferred amine oxidesinclude cocoamidopropylamine oxide, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide andmyristyl dimethyl amine oxide.

The compositions of the invention may also contain a cationic ornonionic polymeric skin or hair conditioning agent at a level from about0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.04% to about 2% andespecially from about 0.05% to about 1% by weight. The polymer is foundto be valuable for enhancing the creaminess and quality of the foam aswell as providing a hair or skin conditioning utility.

Suitable polymers are high molecular weight materials (mass-averagemolecular weight determined, for instance, by light scattering, beinggenerally from about 2,000 to about 3,000,000, preferably from about5,000 to about 1,000,000).

Useful polymers are the cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and anionicpolymers useful in the cosmetic field. Preferred are cationic andnonionic polymers used in the cosmetic fields as hair or skinconditioning agents.

Representative classes of polymers include cationic and nonionicpolysaccharides; cationic and nonionic homopolymers and copolymersderived from acrylic and/or methacrylic acid; cationic and nonioniccellulose resins; cationic copolymers of dimethyldiallylammoniumchloride and acrylic acid; cationic homopolymers ofdimethyldiallylammonium chloride; cationic polyalkylene andethoxypolyalkylene imines; quaternized silicones, and mixtures thereof.

By way of exemplification, cationic polymers suitable for use hereininclude cationic guar gums such as hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium guargum (d.s. of from 0.11 to 0.22) available commercially under the tradenames Jaguar C-14-S(RTM) and Jaguar C-17(RTM) and also Jaguar C-16(RTM),which contains hydroxypropyl substituents (d.s. of from 0.8-1.1) inaddition to the above-specified cationic groups, and quaternizedcellulose ethers available commercially under the trade names UcarePolymer JR and Celquat. Other suitable cationic polymers arehomopolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride available commerciallyunder the trade name Merquat 100, copolymers of dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate and acrylamide, copolymers ofdimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylamide, available commerciallyunder the trade names Merquat 550 and Merquat S, quaternized vinylpyrrolidone acrylate or methacrylate copolymers of amino alcoholavailable commercially under the trade name Gafquat, andpolyalkyleneimines such as polyethylenimine and ethoxylatedpolyethylenimine.

Nonionic polymers suitable for use in the compositions according to thepresent invention include any conventionally used nonionic polymer andpreferably those of the Pluronic and Synperonic group of polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene block copolymers available from BASF, such as PluronicL-121 and ICI, such as synperonic PE-F127.

Anionic polymers suitable herein include hydrophobically-modifiedcross-linked polymers of acrylic acid having amphipathic properties asmarketed by B F Goodrich under the trade name Pemulen TRI and PemulenTR2; and the carboxyvinyl polymers sold by B F Goodrich under the trademark Carbopol and which consist of polymers of acrylic acid cross-linkedwith polyallyl sucrose or polyallyl pentaeyrthritol, for example,Carbopol 934, 940 and 950.

The viscosity of the final composition (Helipath, Spindle A, 10 rpm, 25°C., neat) is preferably at least about 500 cps, more preferably fromabout 1,000 to about 10,000 cps, especially from about 1,000 to about5,000 cps.

The cleansing compositions can optionally include a hair or skinmoisturizer which is soluble in the cleansing composition matrix. Thepreferred level of moisturizer is from about 0.5% to about 20% byweight. In preferred embodiments, the moisturizer is selected from:

1. water-soluble liquid polyols;

2. essential amino acid compounds found naturally occurring in thestratum corneum of the skin; and

3. water-soluble nonpolyol nonocclusives and mixtures thereof.

Some examples of more preferred nonocclusive moisturizers are glycerine,polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol andpropylene glycol ethers of methyl glucose (e.g. methyl gluceth-20),polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol ethers of lanolin alcohol (e.g.Solulan-75), sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, lactic acid, urea,L-proline, guanidine, pyrrolidone, hydrolyzed protein and othercollagen-derived proteins, aloe vera gel and acetamide MEA and mixturesthereof. Of the above, glycerine is highly preferred.

An additional optional component of the composition of the invention isan adduct prepared from vegetable oils containing non-conjugatedpolyunsaturated fatty acid esters which are conjugated and elaidinizedand then modified via Diels-Alder addition with a member of the goupconsisting of acrylic acid, fumaric acid and maleic anhydride. Thevegetable oil adduct preferably has the general formula (X). ##STR8##wherein x, y are integers of from 3 to 9, R₃ and R₄ are independentlyselected from saturated and unsaturated C₇ -C₂₂ hydrocarbyl, each Zbeing CO₂ M and wherein M is H, or a salt forming cation, preferablyalkalimetal, ammonium or alkanol ammonium. The adducts and theirpreparation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,367, the adducts beingmarketed under the trade name Ceraphyl GA (Van Dyke). The vegetable oiladduct is preferably added from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably fromabout 0.05% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 1% byweight of the composition.

The compositions according to the present invention can also include astabilising system. Preferred stabilising systems suitable for inclusionin the compositions according to the present invention comprise aprimary and secondary stabilising agent wherein the primary stabilisingagent is an optionally modified clay or clay like material and thesecondary stabilising agent is a hetero polysaccharide gum. Use of amixed stabilising system is valuable for the delivery of lather havinggood volume, stability and appearance characteristics in combinationwith improvements in skin feel. The total level of primary and secondarystabilising agent present is from about 0.01% to about 15%, preferablyfrom about 0.05% to about 12%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about10% most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight wherein theratio of primary stabiliser to secondary stabiliser is in the range offrom about 32:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 16:1 to about 1:1,more preferably from about 4:1 to about 2:1.

In preferred compositions according to the invention the primarystabiliser is a modified clay based material.

Suitable primary suspending agents for the compositions of the presentinvention include magnesium aluminium silicate (Al₂ Mg₈ Si₂), bentonite,hectorite and derivatives thereof. Magnesium aluminium silicate occursnaturally in such smectite materials as colerainite, saponite andsapphire. Refined magnesium aluminium silicate useful herein isavailable from the R. T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. under the trade nameVeegum (RTM) and from ECC America under the trade name Gelwhite MAS-H(RTM). Modified magnesium aluminium silicate materials such as magnesiumaluminium silicate mineral/CMC are available from the R. T VanderbiltCompany, Inc. under the trade name Veegum Plus (RTM). This modified claymaterial contains smectite clay with sodium carboxymethylcellulose andtitanium dioxide. Bentonite is a native hydrated colloidal aluminiumsilicate clay available from ECC America under the trade name BentoniteH (RTM) and from Whittaker, Clark and Daniels under the trade nameMineral Colloid BP 2430 (RTM). Hectorite is one of the montmorilloniteminerals that is a principal constituent of bentonite clay. Hectorite isavailable from Rheox Inc. under the trade names Bentone EW (RTM) andMacaloid (RTM).

The preferred primary stabilising agent is magnesium aluminium silicatemineral/CMC available from the R. T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. under thetrade name Veegum Plus (RTM).

The preferred secondary stabilising agent in the compositions accordingto the invention is xanthan gum (xanthan/corn sugar gum) which is aheteropolysaccaride gum produced by a pure-culture fermentation of acarbohydrate with Xanthomonas campestris having a molecular weight ofgreater than about 1,000,000. It is believed to contain D-glucose,D-mannose and D-glucoronate in the molar ratios of 2.8:2.0:2.0. Thepolysaccharide is partially acetylated with 4.7% acetyl. Thisbiosynthetic gum material is commercially available from Calgon underthe trade name Kelgum CG (RTM) and from Kelko (a division of Merck &Co., Inc.), Meer and Vanderbilt under the respective trade names Keltrol(RTM), Merezan 8 (RTM) and Rhodigel (RTM) as well as from a variety ofother sources. Xanthan gum mixtures are also available from Calgon,Alban Muller and others and are also suitable for inclusion in thecompositions of the present invention. Further information on xanthangum is to be found in Whistler, Roy L. (Editor) IndustrialGums--Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives New York: Academic Press,1973.

The compositions according to the present invention can also containhydrotropes to impart improved low temperature stabilitycharacteristics. A suitable low temperature hydrotrope for the presentcompositions is sodium C₈ alkyl sulphate.

A number of additional optional materials can be added to the cleansingcompositions. Such materials include proteins and polypeptides andderivatives thereof; water- solubilizable preservatives such as DMDMHydantoin, Germall 115, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters ofhydroxybenzoic acid, EDTA, Euxyl (RTM) K400, Bronopol(2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbateand 2-phenoxyethanol; other moisturizing agents such as hyaluronic acid,chitin and starch-grafted sodium polyacrylates such as Sanwet (RTM)IM-1000, IM-1500 and IM-2500 available from Celanese SuperabsorbentMaterials, Portsmith, Va., USA and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663;solvents such as hexylene glycol and propylene glycol; anti-bacterialagents such as Oxeco phenoxy isopropanol); low temperature phasemodifiers such as ammonium ion sources (e.g. NH₄ Cl); viscosity controlagents such as magnesium sulfate, citrate salts and other electrolytes;colouring agents; pearlescers and opacifiers such as styrene PVPpolymers such as Lytron 631 (RTM), TiO₂ and TiO₂ -coated mica; perfumesand perfume solubilizers; and zeolites such as Valfour BV400 andderivatives thereof and Ca² +/Mg² +sequestrants such aspolycarboxylates, amino polycarboxylates, polyphosphates,polyphosphonates, amino polyphosphonates and gluconates etc and pHadjusting agents such as citric acid and salts thereof. Water is alsopresent at a level preferably of from about 40% to about 94% preferablyat least about 50% by weight of the compositions herein.

The pH of the compositions is preferably from about 4 to about 8.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

In the examples, all concentrations are on a 100% active basis and theabbreviations have the following designation:

    ______________________________________                                        Oil 1   Liquid sucrose octaoleate having a complete melting                           point of less than about 30° C. and an IFT of about 1.45               dynes/cm (on a 4:1 anionic:GA aqueous solution                                basis) wherein IFT is measured as described herein.                   Oil 2   Mineral Oil having an IFT of about 0.38 (measured as                          detailed for Oil 1).                                                  GA      Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of formula I in which R.sub.8                    is C.sub.11 -C.sub.17 alkyl, R.sub.9 is methyl, and Z.sub.2 is                CH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.4 CH.sub.2 OH                                     Anionic Sodium laureth-2 sulfate                                              Amphoteric                                                                            Empigen CDL 60 - an aqueous mixture of 23.5%                                  cocoamphoacetate (in which R.sub.1 is coconut alkyl, R.sub.2 is               H, and Z is CO.sub.2 Na) and 1.35% cocoamphodiacetate                         (in which R.sub.1 is coconut alkyl, R.sub.2 is CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2              Na and                                                                        Z is CO.sub.2 Na).                                                    Betaine Cocoamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine                           Solan   Solan (RTM) E (PEG 55 lanolin)                                        Shea    Hydrosoluble Shea Butter (PEG 75)                                     Preservative                                                                          DMDM Hydantoin                                                        Stabiliser                                                                            MgAl silicate CMC (Veegum Plus RTM)/Xanthan                                   Gum                                                                   Hydrotrope                                                                            Sodium C.sub.8 Alkyl Sulphate                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES I TO VII

The following are personal cleansing compositions in the form of showergel or bath foam products and which are representative of the presentinvention:

    ______________________________________                                        I           II     III     IV   V     VI   VII                                ______________________________________                                        GA      2.0     5.0    6.0   4.0  1.5   6.0  5.0                              Anionic 4.0     2.0    1.0   2.5  6.0   0.5  1.5                              Amphoteric                                                                            --      2.0    --    --   --    --   0.5                              Betaine 0.5     0.5    1.0   --   --    0.5  0.5                              Oil 1   4.0     1.0    5.0   4.0  3.0   1.0  2.0                              Oil 2   8.0     9.0    8.0   12.0 10.0  12.0 8.0                              Solan   0.5     0.5    --    --   --    --   --                               Shea    --      --     --    0.5  --    --   --                               Stabiliser                                                                            0.8     1.6    4.0   0.3  1.6   2.0  0.2                              Hydrotrope                                                                            0.1     --     --    1.0  2.0   0.5  0.2                              Perfume 1.5     1.5    1.5   1.5  1.5   1.5  1.5                              Preservative                                                                          0.15    0.15   0.15  0.15 0.15  0.2  0.2                              Water   to 100                                                                ______________________________________                                    

Compositions I to VII are prepared by first hydrating any Veegum typematerial as a pre-mix. Next all of the oil materials are separatelyblended together using by stirring with water at ambient temperature. Ifxanthan gum type material is present it may be slurried by stirring withthis mixture. Separately, the surfactant materials are hydrated alongwith any additional skin feel agents, preservatives and hydrotropes bymixing with water and heating to between about 20° C. and about 90° C.Finally, the oil blend is added to the hydrated Veegum pre-mix (ifpresent) and then the stirred surfactant mixture is added to thecombined mixture and this final blend is stirred and cooled to ambienttemperature and the remaining water, preservatives, perfume and anyother materials are added.

Finally, the compositions have a viscosity (Helipath,.Spindle A, 10 rpm,25° C., neat) in the range from 1,000 to 10,000 cps.

The products provide excellent in-use and efficacy benefits includingexcellent skin feel during and after use, good lather volume andstability characteristics, skin conditioning, mildness, stability,cleansing, good water-feel and appearance.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal cleansing composition comprising:(a)from about 1% to about 30% by weight of a dispersed oil phase comprisinga first oil component comprising a polyol fatty acid ester, said firstoil component having an oil/surfactant solution interfacial tension(IFI) of greater than about 1.0 dynes/cm and a second oil componentcomprising one or more oils selected from the group consisting ofhydrocarbons, animal and vegetable triglycerides, fatty sorbitan esters,lanolin and lanolin derivatives, water-insoluble silicones inclusive ofnon-volatile polyalkyl and polyaryl siloxane gums and fluids, volatilecyclic and linear polyalkylsiloxanes, polyalkoxylated silicones, aminoand quaternary ammonium modified silicones, rigid cross-linked andreinforced silicones and mixtures thereof, C₁ -C₂₄ esters of C₈ -C₃₀fatty acids, beeswax, saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols, almondoil, peanut oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricotpits, oil of walnuts, oil of palm nuts, oil of pistachio nuts, oil ofsesame seeds, rapeseed oil, cade oil, corn oil, peach pit oil, poppyseedoil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, safflower oil,coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil,C₁ -C₂₄ esters of dimer and trimer acids, and mixtures thereof, saidsecond oil component having an oil/surfactant solution interfacialtension (IFT) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 dynes/cm; (b)from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a water-soluble surfactantsystem comprising about 1% to about 25% an oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant and, optionally, an auxiliary surfactant selected from thegroup consisting of anionic, zwiterionic and amphoteric surfactants andmixtures thereof, and (c) water;wherein the weight ratio of first tosecond oil component is in the range from about 20:1 to about 1:20, saidcomposition further comprising from about 0.01% to about 15% by weightof a stabilising system comprising an optionally modified clay-basedmaterial primary stabiliser and a hetero polysaccharide gum secondarystabiliser, wherein the weight ratio of primary to secondary stabiliseris in the range from about 32:1 to about 1:1.
 2. A composition accordingto claim 1 wherein the composition has a viscosity (Helipath, Spindle A,10 rpm, 25° C., neat) in the range from 1,000 to 10,000 cps.
 3. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the first oil component isselected from the group consisting of glucose tetraoleate, the glucosetetraesters of soybean oil fatty acids (unsaturated), the mannosetetraesters of mixed soybean oil fatty acids, the galactose tetraestersof oleic acid, the arabinose tetraesters of linoleic acid, xylosetetralinoleate, galactose pentaoleate, sorbitol tetraoleate, thesorbitol hexaesters of unsaturated soybean oil fatty acids, xylitolpentaoleate, sucrose tetraoleate, sucrose pentaoletate, sucrosehexaoleate, sucrose hepatoleate, sucrose octaoleate, and mixturesthereof.
 4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the first oilcomponent is sucrose octaoleate.
 5. A composition according to claim 1wherein the first oil component is present at a level of from about 1%to about 10% by weight.
 6. A composition according to claim 1 whereinthe second oil component comprises one or more oils selected from thegroup consisting of mineral oil, petrolatum, water insoluble silicones,soya bean oil and mixtures thereof.
 7. A composition according to claim1 wherein the second oil component is present at a level of from about1% to about 20% by weight.
 8. A composition according to claim 1 whereinthe total level of first and second oil components is from about 3% toabout 25%.
 9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the ratio offirst to second oil component is from about 8:1 to about 1:81.
 10. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the level of oil dispersingnonionic surfactant is from about 2% to about 15% by weight.
 11. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant is selected from the group consisting of C12-C18 polyhydroxyfatty acid amide surfactants having the general formula ##STR9## whereinR9 is C1-4 alkyl, and R8 is C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof;and Z2 is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chainwith at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or analkoxylated derivative thereof.
 12. A composition according to claim 1wherein the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant comprises a polyhydroxyfatty acid amide having the formula R₈ (CO)N(CH₃)CH₂ (CHOH)₄ CH₂ OHwherein R₈ is a C₁₁ -C₁₇ straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group.
 13. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant comprises a C₁₂ -C₁₄ ; polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.
 14. Acomposition according to claim 1 comprising from about 1% to about 10%by weight in total of auxiliary surfactant.
 15. A composition accordingto claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of oil dispersing nonionicsurfactant to dispersed oil phase is in the range of from 1:20 to about3:2.
 16. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the ratio ofauxiliary surfactant to oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is in therange of from 1:10 to about 10:1.
 17. A composition according to claim 1wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting ofethoxylated alkyl sulfates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, methyl acyltaurates, fatty acyl glycinates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, N-acylglutamates, acyl isethionates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alpha-sulfonatedfatty acids, their salts and/or their esters, alkyl phosphate esters,ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, acyl sarcosinates and fattyacid/protein condensates, and mixtures thereof.
 18. A compositionaccording to claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant comprises anethoxylated C₈ -C₂₂ alkyl sulfate.
 19. A composition according to claim1 wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from the groupconsisting of:(a) imidazolinium derivatives of formula (II) ##STR10##wherein R₁ is C₇ -C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₂ is hydrogen or CH₂ Z, each Zis independently CO₂ M or CH₂ CO₂ M, and M is H, alkali metal, alkalineearth metal, ammonium, or alkanolammonium; ammonium derivates of formula(III) ##STR11## wherein R₁, R₂ and Z are as defined above or mixturesthereof; (b) aminoalkanoates of formula (IV)R₁ NH(CH₂)nCO₂ Mandiminodialkanoates of formula (V) R₁ N₂ wherein n and m are numbers from1 to 4, and R₁ and M are independently selected from the groupsspecified in (a) above; and (c) mixtures thereof.
 20. A compositionaccording to claim 1 wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected fromthe group consisting of imidazolinium derivatives of formula II,ammonium derivatives of formula III and mixtures thereof.
 21. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic surfactant isselected from the group consisting of alkyl betaine, amido betaine,alkyl sultaine and mixtures thereof.
 22. A composition according toclaim 1 additionally comprising from 0.01% to 5% by weight of a cationicor nonionic polymeric skin or hair conditioning agent, selected from thegroup consisting of cationic and nonionic polysaccharides; cationic andnonionic homopolymers and copolymers derived from acrylic or methacrylicacid; cationic and nonionic cellulose resins; cationic copolymers ofdimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylic acid; cationic homopolymersof dimethyldiallylammonium chloride; cationic polyalkylene andethoxypolyalkylene imines; quaternized silicones, and mixtures thereof.23. A composition according to claim 1 additionally comprisingmoisturiser selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polyethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol andpolypropylene glycol ethers of methyl glucose, sodium pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, lactic acid, L-proline and mixtures thereof.
 24. Acomposition according to claim 1 additionally comprising an adductprepared from vegetables oils containing non-conjugated polyunsaturatedfatty acid esters which are conjugated and elaidinized and then modifiedvia Diels-Alder addition with a member selected from the groupconsisting of acrylic acid, fumaric acid and maleic anhydride.